Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Ann in NJ left a comment and her choice of border #4. Her number was the lucky one drawn....but I have decided to go with border #2...

I pulled the brick red from the stash for an inner border and I really just like the things that border #2 is saying to me! So Ann in NJ....your choice of border didn't 'win' but you still get a package of scraps!!! Please email me and let me know your address and I'll ship them off to you!

Thanks to everyone for your comments and suggestions!!! I ended up laying them all out...and living with them for a few days...slowly narrowing it down. And..well...it's #2. :o)

Now for the "OH French General Stuff" part of the post! I've received notice that these items are shipping!!! WOOOHOOO!!!

Isn't it LOVELY!!!! The French General Notebook has lots of pockets for storage and holds a 6 x 9 note pad. Measures 7" x 9 1/2"! For my blog readers...$23.99, which includes US shipping. I'm happy to ship across the pond for a few extra dollars! I have 20 of these coming...so first come, first serve! ***UPDATE: 7 left***

And.......the LOVELY French General Sewing Bag!!!

Can you stand it? Perfect for your knitting...your stitching.....inside pockets...measures about 14" x 11 1/2" x 6"....would also be a oooh la la chic handbag!!! These are $39.99, which includes US shipping. Again..happy to ship international for a few extra dollars. My first shipment only has 6 of these. So again...first come first serve! ***UPDATE: SOLD OUT....more on order***

Please email me at kwiltykim@hotmail.com if you're interested in either of these beautiful pieces! They will ship out to you on Monday, October 5!!! I do accept paypal...no problemo! I know some of you had already said you would like these items when they come in. Please still do email me and let me know so I can keep track and make sure you get yours! Thanks guys!!

I'm awaiting my Rounierres fabric order with baited breath! This is a fabulous line!!! I've got kits, fat quarter packs, and french TOWELING coming!!! Can you tell I'm excited! ;o)

Sunday, September 27, 2009

Winding down another weekend....and I've got the guts of another quilt put together...those nice mellow wovens and textures! I had originally planned to go out and purchase a couple more yards for the border...but then decided I probably have something right here in the stash that will work....and will give it an unexpected finish! You know me...I like weird combinations and am always up for shaking things up a bit!

So won't you help me? I'm auditioning borders. Which do you like?

Option #1

Option #2

Option #3

Option #4

Or Option #5, which is "Kim...go back to the quilt shop and buy the matching fabric for the border."

Of course I will set this center off with a nice skinny inner border...but which do you prefer to end this one?

If you leave a comment with your choice...I'll put your name in a drawing for the latest scraps from my cutting table...

Those are 2 1/2" strips from some Moda collections that I used in my triangles quilt...and then lots of strips leftover from this woven/textured quilt, and a couple other scraps. Makes no difference if you live here or across the pond! Just please be sure to leave your email address or a link to your blog so I can let you know when you win!

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Here it is Thursday already! Of course that means the weekend is almost here! Wooohooo!!! It also means time for another Thrifty Thursday post!

I'm excited to show you what ten bucks bought me this week!

Look!

I'll start with the most spendy item....the funky pottery planter. $4.99 but worth it to me because it's got an odd paint treatment..and I am all about odd painted pottery! Then there was the hand-thrown pottery honey pot. $2.00. Hmmmm...this makes pottery honey pot #2...could this be the start of a collection? Do you, personally, use a honey pot? I mean for actual honey? Inquiring minds want to know! Then there was the score of a bag of dominoes...for a buck! And it all rests on a lovely red tray that someone crafted...another $2.00!

A nice little haul for ten bucks! I wonder what I'll find between now and next Thursday! Oh the excitement! :o)

This week, in addition to finishing up the strip sets for the next quilt (update on that in a later post)...I have been working a bit on Ann, and she's moving along nicely.

The thing I love about this one is that when I get tired of working on the red house, I can move over a bit and work on something that is of more interest...like this week I stitched the blue pot that holds the central motif and then the little tree there. I think I'll do another length on the house and then possibly move back up to the top to work for a bit! I'm actually seeing progress!

Thank you all for your comments and inquiries about Ann. I know a lot of you have emailed me about getting this chart, and I am checking to confirm what I believe to be a source to get this out-of-print chart, which may be coming back to print! I'll keep you posted!

Saturday, September 19, 2009

That's what I worked on this evening...and I think you may be able to see some progress from the last pic...finally!

And while I work on the house...brick by brick.....I can't help but let my mind wander to the solid lawn stitching that will also be in my future! But it's all good...in the end I will love it!

Today I went on my typical Saturday morning trip to my fav' Goodwill and was excited to find yet another flower frog to add to my collection! But when I got home...and unwrapped it and really realized what I had this time, I was so happy!

You may remember that Deb has several that she uses to hold her embroidery scissor collection! Well...Deb! Look!

This one was a big chunky one...self-contained! And it works PERFECTLY for my scissors too! Aaaaaat laaaaaaaaast (sung in my best Natalie Cole impressionist voice)......I was so excited! There were three other frogs there that were the lid styles...but I left them there because I already have several. Even though..you know, it IS a collection...and this evening I thought HEY! How cool would it be to paint that bird cage and fill it with all my glass flower frogs! They're difficult to display...they're flat yet round...they don't stack well unless they're contained...I think I might do that! And I think I might go back to my haunt tomorrow and pick up the rest of those frogs...if they're still there! If they are...it was meant to be. ;o)

I'm off now to knit for a bit! I sense a sock completion in my future! And tomorrow....quilting action! Stay tuned!

Thursday, September 17, 2009

I won't get wordy here.....here's what less than ten bucks bought this week!

Please ignore my dust.....

The white wire 'bird cage' is going to get either A) rusted or B) painted red or black. Of COURSE the hubs had to ask me what I was going to put in the bird cage. When I said "I do not know yet"...he kindly offered to put a dove in it....one that he just shot (it's dove hunting season...where is the sport in that, I ask you?)

I collect boxes....and so these two were great to add to the collection! In the background you'll see two scrabble games...in the nice older boxes.....and on top of that...a box of dominos! I was on the hunt for scrabble tiles and hit the jackpot TWICE this week! And the dominos...I want to collect and put them all in a giant jar! I think they'll look graphic and cool! But then I could be mistaken!

Then I found this...

I love this urn! I have no idea what I'm going to use it for....but know it will be wonderful in the kitchen doing SOMETHING! Any ideas??? It was two bucks! Can you believe it!?

So all of this for less than ten bucks! Fun and cheap entertainment for me! And it's great fun to find unique items to decorate with!!

I know a lot of you have asked what the 'secret' is...and honestly there isn't one. Go often...and just keep your eye out all the time! There are some days when I don't find a thing.....but most times I always come home with at least a little something that puts a smile on my face!

I'm off to stitch on Ann Rayner some more. I caught a glimpse of the new Christmas design from Kathy Barrick and decided I needed to get my butt in gear and get some stitching finished so I can start that beauty!!!

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

So here we are in the middle of the week! Hooray for Wednesday!! This weekend I got a wild hair and decided I wanted to prep for an applique project....

So I pulled this off the shelf....

and admired the project. Went to reach for freezer paper, and EEEEK! None to be found!! Not to be deterred, I was certain I had a sheet of template plastic SOMEWHERE. I searched high and low and complained and whined for days...telling myself I WOULD go to the store and pick up either freezer paper or template plastic or BOTH!

Well this evening on the drive home...I drove right past the store...not feeling the least bit interested in parking the Santa Fe and walking thru the aisles of a grocery store for freezer paper...drove past a quilt shop too, again, not feeling the idea of actually going anywhere but home. Tomorrow. I told myself I would get those items tomorrow and work on templates then.

Got home...got comfy....and then it hit me. Good GRIEF! Did our grandmothers and our great grandmothers hold off on projects until they had freezer paper or template plastic? Laughable! Of course they didn't! They made DO! So I was hellbent...I was making do.

Now what, if you love quilts and all things vintage-sewing, is a wonderful find at a garage sale or an estate sale? Why...a box....with patterns and quilt templates stored away! And what were these made out of usually?

Thank you half-full completely-stale Fruit Loops! I have a template! Pat me on the back for being so frooty-green and making do! ;o)

Do you recognize the template....yes...it's true. I have fallen off the deep end and am planning to begin prepping blocks for this....

but all scrappy! No rhyme or reason to colors....just lots of good ones! ;o) Now don't hold your breath for 291 basket blocks in the near future! And I'm not even sure I will be doing 291! That's allotta baskets! But we'll see. I think they'll be fun...portable....and quick! Wanna join me? What a great way to practice your needleturn applique! C'mon! It'll be fun!

After my "A-Ha!" moment of making do and making templates....I decided to TRY to make some headway....

on Ann Rayner....

I surely did stitch for a while, though you really can't tell---now can you? Hmph! More headway is needed! But I've now tucked her away...and I'm going to work on some laundry. And then...in true multi-tasking fashion...I'm going to work on that second sock! I'm just about ready to start the toe decrease and then I will have a PAIR! So excited! Now if I can only remember how to graft the toe! :o/

Sunday, September 13, 2009

Just as I envisioned! I spied an antique quilt in a book, and that was my inspiration.

I think the black print really adds to the vintage look I was going for!

The week was a short one, but one wouldn't know it! Seemed to drag on! But I did do a little thrifting. I'm really lovin' the hunt! So much so that I think I may start a 'Thrifty Thursday' post to show finds for the week! I don't want to bore you every other day with the latest piece of orphaned pottery...so once a week I'll share!

I don't think I ever showed this great framed bird print I scored for three bucks. I love the aged look it has....that black..and green...and the birds.

Yes sir I love the hunt AND the find! ;o) A dear friend of mine---Blogless Kimm (Hi Kimm!) and I are going to head down to Omaha in a few weeks. So excited...we're meeting up with Paulette and having a great girls day! In search of treasure we shall be!

Now Paulette and I have been great friends for...oh....at least 4 years. We've shared tears...laughs....LOTS of laughs....chatted on the phone...and have taken FULL advantage of internet communication, as well as Blackberry IMing...but we have NEVER ... EVER met face to face! Can you believe that? And we only live 3 hours away! Seems like when she would be up here for a cheer comp, I'd be out of town...it just never worked out! So I'm excited for the trip to Omaha! And I'm sure it will provide plenty of blog fodder! LOL Always good to have something to look forward to!

This evening I went down and prepped the next quilt.....yes....another one...so soon...

This one will be quick...simple....letting the fabrics speak...I'm using those wonderfully textural wovens I picked up a while back from my pal, Twyla!

Quick is good...because look what else I got this week! Yummy wool from Alice!!

I've got a plan for this! A hooker I shall be!!! Woooohooo! So I want to get this wovens quilt done so I can toss a rug pattern on the frame that's been patiently waiting and start my hooking journey!

So many fiber arts....so little time! I hope you've had a great weekend! I'm going to curl up with Ann for a bit and stitch and enjoy the rest of the evening!

Sunday, September 06, 2009

Are you enjoying this great holiday weekend? I'm so glad it's just Sunday! The weekend has been fun! Yesterday was spent ripping paper....tons of paper off of the triangle units! All are ready and waiting on the ironing board!

Yum! If you like spicay...and lemon....and shrimp....and messy fingers....this is the recipe for you! Be sure and have lots of french bread to sop up the sauce! Oh yeah...and enjoy yourself a lovely glass of wine too! I did! ;o)

As soon as I finish up this post, I'm heading downstairs to continue work on the quilt. Tomorrow I will post quilty pics...and maybe even some more progress on Ann Rayner! Aaaah...I love long weekends!!

Tuesday, September 01, 2009

Here we are...almost mid-week! On the verge of another long weekend!! I can't wait!

I had a very pleasant weekend last weekend..yes, another long one. I had grand plans for so many things...but found myself pretty much aflutter...flitting from one thing to another. I did feather the nest a bit by hanging some new pictures, rearranging some things etc. I always have so much fun doing that!!

On the creative front...I seemed to really be flitting around. I had hoped to have a finished second sock, but I lost my dpn down the side of the hermetically sealed sofa...ne'er to be seen again. I need to hit up the yarn shop for another set! So the knitting was cast aside.

So I did spend a little bit of time down in the sewing studio....working on these...

and turning them in to these.....

and adding them to this pile......

Thangles are the most boring thing to work on, but the results are worth it....especially since the quilt I'm working on has about a gazillion half square triangles! This was the easiest, most efficient way to get those done! And I really want to get them done! So this week, I've been cutting Thangles apart...preparing for an evening of paper ripping, which should be in my future soon!

I need to get it done, because I made the mistake (or not) of unbundling several Moda fat quarter collections and put them neatly together in this great box Jerry found for me (yes...thrifting)....

That's two different Brannock & Patek collections mixed in with the new Alliance collection from Moda. I couldn't bear to take apart the Beach House collection from the Blackbird Designs gals...those will remain together, but the other three collections melded just fine together! I'm not really a 'make a quilt from this one particular line' kinda gal. So it did my heart good to mix these three up and imagine the possibilities! And the other bundle...well...that's a fabulous bundles of super soft and yummy textured wovens I got from my pal Twyla at Quilted Memories in Brandon! I don't know what I'm going to do with those yet, but they were right up my alley...wovens....drab...LOVE!

So I'm already going thru the catalog of fat quarter quilts stored in my mind and planning the next quilt! And that goes against everything in my being...I am but a one piecer quilt at a time! So I must concentrate on Thangles this week and possibly dedicate most of the weekend to this quilt!

This evening, however, after winding every single bobbin in my sewing table drawers...I picked up Ann for a bit...

How do you deal with multiple projects? Are you aflutter as well? Or do you just go with the flow and work on whatever and hope that some day things actually are to a point of completion!? Imagine what I'll be like once I start my rug hooking adventures! EEEEEK!